(a) School districts shall implement grade advancement
requirements in accordance with this subchapter and the Texas Education Agency
(TEA) procedures outlined in the official Student Success Initiative manual,
published annually by the TEA. As specified in §101.2009 of this title (relating
to Notice to Parents or Guardians), school districts will make public at the
beginning of the school year grade advancement requirements as determined by
the school district.

(b) In addition to local policy relating to grade
advancement, except in cases where a student is testing above grade level as
specified in the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0211(o), a student in Grade
5 or Grade 8 shall demonstrate proficiency in reading and mathematics as required
by the TEC, §28.0211(a), in order to advance to the next grade. The assessment
grade promotion requirements of the TEC, §28.0211(a), shall be in effect beginning
with the 2012-2013 school year. Demonstrated proficiency is defined under this
section as meeting the satisfactory passing standard on the appropriate assessment
instruments specified by §101.2003(a) of this title (relating to Grade Advancement
Testing Requirements) or on a state-approved alternate assessment authorized
in §101.2011 of this title (relating to Alternate Assessment). The standard
in place when a student first takes a Grade 5 or Grade 8 mathematics or reading
assessment is the standard that will be maintained for all subsequent retest
opportunities for that student. A student who does not demonstrate proficiency
as described in this section may advance to the next grade only if:

(1) the student has completed the required accelerated
instruction under §101.2006 of this title (relating to Accelerated Instruction);

(2) the student's Grade Placement Committee (GPC),
as specified in §101.2007 of this title (relating to Role of Grade Placement
Committee), determines by unanimous decision, in accordance with the standards
for promotion established by the local school board, that the student is likely
to perform at grade level at the end of the next year given additional accelerated
instruction. In accordance with the TEC, §28.021, to determine grade promotion,
a school district is required to consider the recommendation of the student's
teacher, the student's grades, the student's assessment scores, and any other
necessary academic information; and

(3) in accordance with the TEC, §28.0211(n), the
school district will ensure that a student who is promoted by a GPC under §101.2007
of this title shall be assigned in each subject in which the student failed
to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under the TEC,
§28.0211(a), to a teacher who meets all state and federal qualifications to
teach that subject and grade.

(c) Students shall be provided accelerated instruction
required by the TEC, §28.0211 and §39.025(b-1), as specified in §101.2006 of
this title.

(d) A student in Grade 5 or Grade 8 may not be
denied promotion to the next grade on the basis of failure to perform satisfactorily
on a reading or mathematics assessment instrument intended for use above the
student's grade level.

Source: The provisions of this §101.2001 adopted to be effective
May 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 4337; amended to be effective April 19, 2010, 35 TexReg
3030; amended to be effective June 4, 2012, 37 TexReg 4040; amended to be effective
February 26, 2014, 39 TexReg 1149.

(a) Except in cases where a student is testing
above grade level as specified in the Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0211(o),
each school district and charter school shall test eligible students in accordance
with the grade advancement requirements for the grades and subjects specified
in the TEC, §28.0211(a). The assessment grade promotion requirements of the
TEC, §28.0211(a), shall be in effect beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.
These requirements apply to the following assessment instruments under the TEC,
§39.023(a), (b), and (l):

(1) the reading and mathematics assessments at
Grade 5; and

(2) the reading and mathematics assessments at
Grade 8.

(b) An eligible student is subject to all of the
grade advancement requirements under the TEC, §28.0211, including automatic
retention, if the student is enrolled in a local school district or charter
school on any day between January 1 and the date of the first administration
of the grade advancement assessments, unless a student is administered an assessment
instrument intended for use above the student's grade level as specified in
the TEC, §28.0211(o). A student is only eligible to take an assessment instrument
intended for use above the student's grade level if the student is receiving
instruction in the entire curriculum for that subject.

(c) An eligible student who does not meet the
criteria specified in subsection (b) of this section but enrolls in a local
school district or charter school at any time after the date of the first administration
of the grade advancement assessments is not subject to the grade advancement
requirements. In accordance with §101.2001(b) of this title (relating to Policy),
a school district or charter school must provide this student with the opportunity
to test and access to required accelerated instruction.

(d) A student receiving special education services
under the TEC, Chapter 29, Subchapter A, enrolled in Grade 5 or Grade 8 who
is receiving instruction in the essential knowledge and skills in a subject
specified under subsection (a) of this section is eligible under this section
as outlined in the official Student Success Initiative manual published annually
by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). In accordance with the TEC, §28.0211(i),
the student's admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee shall determine
appropriate assessment and accelerated instruction for each eligible student.
Assessment decisions must be made on an individual basis and in accordance with
procedures established by the TEA. These decisions shall be documented in the
student's individualized education program.

(e) An English language learner (ELL), as defined
by the TEC, Chapter 29, Subchapter B, who is administered an assessment in English
or Spanish for a grade and subject specified in subsection (a) of this section,
except as provided by §101.1005 of this title (relating to Assessments of Achievement
in Academic Content Areas and Courses), is eligible under this section. In accordance
with §101.1005(a) of this title, the student's language proficiency assessment
committee (LPAC) shall determine the appropriate assessment and accelerated
instruction for each eligible student. The Grade Placement Committee, as specified
in §101.2007 of this title (relating to Role of Grade Placement Committee),
shall make its decisions in consultation with a member of the student's LPAC.
Assessment decisions must be made on an individual basis and in accordance with
procedures established by the TEA.

(f) As specified in §101.1005 of this title, decisions
regarding assessments for ELLs who receive special education services shall
be made by the ARD committee in conjunction with the LPAC.

(g) In accordance with the TEC, §28.021(b), decisions
regarding a student who has dyslexia and is eligible under this section shall
consider the student's potential for achievement or proficiency in the assessed
subject.

Source: The provisions of this §101.2003 adopted to be effective
May 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 4337; amended to be effective February 24, 2005, 30
TexReg 842; amended to be effective April 19, 2010, 35 TexReg 3030; amended
to be effective June 4, 2012, 37 TexReg 4040; amended to be effective February
26, 2014, 39 TexReg 1149.

(a) The Texas Education Agency (TEA) shall establish
the test administration procedures in the applicable test administration materials.
The superintendent of each school district and chief administrative officer
of each charter school shall be responsible for following these procedures and
maintaining the integrity of the test administration and the security and confidentiality
requirements, as specified in Chapter 101, Subchapter C, of this title (relating
to Security and Confidentiality).

(b) The TEA shall provide three opportunities
per year for the tests required for grade advancement as specified in the Texas
Education Code, §28.0211(a). The commissioner of education shall specify the
dates of these administrations in the assessment calendar. Additional test opportunities
will not be provided.

(c) The superintendent of each school district
and chief administrative officer of each charter school shall establish procedures
to ensure:

(1) that each eligible student who is absent or
does not receive a test score for any test administration shall receive appropriate
accelerated instruction as warranted on an individual student basis; and

(2) that each eligible student who is absent or
does not receive a test score for all three test opportunities and is consequently
retained shall receive other appropriate means of evaluation, including the
administration of an alternate assessment, as provided under §101.2011(a) of
this title (relating to Alternate Assessment), so that the Grade Placement Committee
has sufficient evidence for its review upon appeal by a parent or guardian.

(d) A campus or district must accommodate the
request of an out-of-district student to participate in the third administration
of a test required for grade advancement if that campus or district is testing
one or more local students on the applicable test and if the out-of-district
student has registered to take the test by a date determined by the TEA.

Source: The provisions of this §101.2005 adopted to be effective
May 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 4337; amended to be effective February 24, 2005, 30
TexReg 842.

§101.2006. Accelerated
Instruction.

(a) Each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily
on an assessment instrument administered under the Texas Education Code (TEC),
§39.023(a), (b), or (c), the school district or charter school shall provide
the student with accelerated instruction in the applicable subject. A student
failing to perform satisfactorily on an end-of-course assessment under the TEC,
§39.023(c), must be provided the appropriate accelerated instruction before
the next administration of the applicable assessment as specified by the TEC,
§29.081(b-1).

(b) Accelerated instruction may require participation
of the student before or after normal school hours and may include participation
at times of the year outside normal school operations. Each school district
and each charter school shall be responsible for providing transportation to
students required to attend accelerated instruction programs if these programs
occur outside of regular school hours.

(c) A school district must accommodate the request
of an out-of-district student to participate in any established, on-campus summer
accelerated instruction program, provided the student is living away from his
or her home district and the program matches the accelerated instruction prescribed
by the student's Grade Placement Committee.

(d) Accelerated instruction shall be based on,
but not limited to, guidelines on research-based best practices and effective
strategies as outlined in the Student Success Initiative manual, published annually
by the TEA, which districts may use for developing accelerated instruction.

(e) In addition, for students who are administered
state assessments specified under the TEC, §28.0211(a):

(1) a student who fails to perform satisfactorily
on an assessment instrument specified under the TEC, §28.0211(a), shall be provided
accelerated instruction before the next administration of the applicable assessment
as specified by the TEC, §28.0211. A student shall be assigned to an accelerated
instruction group that does not have a ratio larger than ten students for each
teacher; and

(2) a student who fails to perform satisfactorily
on an assessment instrument specified under the TEC, §28.0211(a), after the
first, second, and third testing opportunities and who is promoted to the next
grade level must complete, in accordance with state and local school board policy,
all the accelerated instruction required under this section before placement
in the next grade level. A student who fails to complete all the required accelerated
instruction may not be promoted.

Source: The provisions of this §101.2006 adopted to be effective
April 19, 2010, 35 TexReg 3030; amended to be effective June 4, 2012, 37 TexReg
4040; amended to be effective February 26, 2014, 39 TexReg 1149.

(a) In accordance with the Texas Education Code
(TEC), §28.0211, the superintendent of each school district and chief administrative
officer of each charter school shall establish procedures for convening a Grade
Placement Committee (GPC) for each eligible student who fails to demonstrate
proficiency on the second administration of the assessment required for grade
advancement. In accordance with §101.2006(d) of this title (relating to Accelerated
Instruction), decisions by the GPC shall be made on an individual student basis,
address required participation of the student in accelerated instruction, and
ensure the most effective instruction to support the student's academic achievement
on grade level.

(b) The GPC shall be composed of the principal
or principal's designee, the student's parent or guardian, and the student's
teacher(s) of the subject of the grade advancement assessment(s) on which the
student has failed to demonstrate proficiency. If this teacher is unavailable,
the principal shall designate to serve on the GPC a teacher certified in the
subject of the assessment on which the student failed to perform satisfactorily
and who is most familiar with the student's performance in that subject area.
If more than one parent or guardian has the authority to make educational decisions
regarding the student, a good faith effort must be made to notify both parents,
but participation of any one parent or guardian is sufficient. Either parent
or only one guardian may initiate an appeal. If both parents or guardians serve
on the GPC but do not agree, either may agree to promote the student if the
remaining members of the GPC also agree to the promotion. The district may accept
a parent's or guardian's written designation of another individual to serve
on the GPC for all purposes. The district may accept a parent's or guardian's
written and signed waiver of participation in the GPC and designation of the
remaining members of the GPC as the decision-making entity for all purposes.

(1) If a parent or guardian or designee is unable
to attend a meeting, the district may use other methods to ensure parent participation,
including individual and conference telephone calls. The district may designate
an individual to act on behalf of the student in place of a parent, guardian,
or designee if no such person can be located. A surrogate parent named to act
on behalf of a student with a disability shall be considered a parent for purposes
of the TEC, §28.0211.

(2) The district shall make a good faith effort
to notify a parent or guardian to attend the GPC. If a parent or guardian is
unavailable, the remaining members of the GPC must convene as required by this
section and take all necessary actions, except that the GPC may not agree to
promote a student under the TEC, §28.0211(e), unless a parent, guardian, or
designee has appealed. A district may allow an appeal to be filed in writing
in lieu of attending the GPC.

(c) Within five working days of receipt of student
assessment results for the second administration of the assessment required
for grade advancement, the district shall notify the campus principal of student
assessment results for each eligible student who fails to demonstrate proficiency.
Upon receipt of this notice, the principal shall notify the teacher and parent
or guardian of the assessment results. This notice shall include a description
of the purpose and responsibilities of the GPC and the time and place for the
GPC to hold its first meeting.

(d) In accordance with §101.2006(d) of this title,
the GPC is responsible for prescribing the accelerated instruction the student
is to receive before the third testing opportunity. The GPC shall also decide
at this time whether the student shall take the assessment specified in §101.2003
of this title (relating to Grade Advancement Testing Requirements) or the alternate
assessment, as authorized by §101.2011 of this title (relating to Alternate
Assessment). In the absence of unanimous agreement, the student shall take the
assessment specified in §101.2003 of this title.

(e) The GPC must convene again if a student fails
to demonstrate proficiency on the third administration of an assessment required
for grade advancement and is thereby automatically retained at the same grade
level. Within five working days of receipt of student assessment results for
this administration, the district shall notify the principal or principal's
designee of student assessment results for each eligible student who fails to
demonstrate proficiency. Upon receipt of this notice from the district, the
principal shall inform the teacher and parent or guardian of the time and place
for the GPC to hold a meeting. This notice shall inform the parent or guardian
of the opportunity to appeal the automatic retention of the student. The district
shall establish a procedure to ensure a good faith effort is made toward securing
the parent's or guardian's receipt of the retention notification. The parent
or guardian may appeal the retention by submitting a request to the GPC within
five working days of receipt of this retention notification.

(f) If an appeal has been initiated by the parent
or guardian, the GPC may decide in favor of promotion only if the GPC concludes,
upon review of all facts and circumstances and in accordance with standards
adopted by the local school board, that the student is likely to perform on
grade level given additional accelerated instruction during the next school
year. A student may be promoted only if the GPC's decision is unanimous and
the student has completed all required accelerated instruction specified in
§101.2006 of this title. The review and final decision of the GPC must be appropriately
documented as meeting the standards adopted by the local school board and made
in conformance with procedures specified in the Student Success Initiative manual
and as required by §101.2001(b) of this title (relating to Policy). These standards
must include consideration of the following:

(1) the recommendation of the student's teacher;

(2) the student's grades;

(3) the student's assessment scores; and

(4) any other necessary academic information as
determined by the district.

(g) In accordance with the TEC, §28.0211(e), the
placement decision by the GPC shall be made before the start of the next school
year or, if applicable, upon reenrollment of a student after this date.

(h) A student who has been promoted upon completion
of a school year in a school other than a Texas public school may be enrolled
in that grade without regard to whether the student has successfully completed
an assessment required under the TEC, §28.0211. This subsection does not limit
the authority of a district to appropriately place a student under the TEC,
Chapter 25, Subchapter B.

(i) In addition to the placement decision, the
GPC shall develop an accelerated instruction plan for each student who does
not pass after three testing opportunities, regardless of whether the student
has been promoted or retained. This plan shall include the accelerated instruction
that the district must provide during the next school year. The plan must be
designed to enable the student to perform at the appropriate grade level by
the end of the next school year. The district shall establish a policy for monitoring
the student during the school year to ensure that the student is progressing
in accordance with the plan. The accelerated instruction plan must provide for
interim progress reports to the student's parent or guardian and the opportunity
for consultation with the teacher and/or principal as needed.

Source: The provisions of this §101.2007 adopted to be effective
May 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 4337; amended to be effective February 24, 2005, 30
TexReg 842; amended to be effective April 19, 2010, 35 TexReg 3030; amended
to be effective February 26, 2014, 39 TexReg 1149.

(a) The superintendent of each school district
or chief administrative officer of each charter school shall notify parents
or guardians of the grade advancement requirements at the beginning of the school
year.

(b) The district shall provide early notice to
parents or guardians of students identified in a preceding grade to be at risk
of failure on the first administration of the assessment required for grade
advancement the next year. The superintendent must establish the instruments/procedures
to be used to make this determination. This notice shall include accelerated
instruction participation requirements as stipulated by §101.2006 of this title
(relating to Accelerated Instruction) and be provided before the end of the
school year preceding the grade advancement requirements.

(c) The district shall establish procedures to
notify the parent or guardian of a student who has failed to demonstrate proficiency
on the first administration of a grade advancement assessment. This notification
should be made within five working days of district receipt of student assessment
results from this administration. This notice shall include the student's assessment
results, a description of the grade advancement policy, the required accelerated
instruction to which the student has been assigned under §101.2006 of this title,
and the possibility that the student might be retained at the same grade level
for the next school year. In addition, the notice shall encourage parents or
guardians to meet immediately with the student's teacher to outline mutual responsibilities
to support the student during accelerated instruction.

(d) Whenever the district is required to notify
a parent or guardian about the requirements related to promotion and accelerated
instruction under §101.2006 of this title for students at risk of retention,
including the notification requirements for the Grade Placement Committee under
§101.2007 of this title (relating to Role of Grade Placement Committee), the
district shall make a good faith effort to ensure that the notice is provided
either in person or by regular mail, is clear and easy to understand, and is
written in English or in the parent's or guardian's native language.

Source: The provisions of this §101.2009 adopted to be effective
May 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 4337; amended to be effective April 19, 2010, 35 TexReg
3030; amended to be effective February 26, 2014, 39 TexReg 1149.

(a) On the third testing opportunity, each school
district and charter school may establish by local board policy a district-wide
procedure to use a state-approved alternate assessment instead of the statewide
assessment instrument specified in §101.2003(a) of this title (relating to Grade
Advancement Testing Requirements). The commissioner of education shall provide
annually, to school districts and charter schools, a list of state-approved
group-administered achievement tests, if available, certified by test publishers
as meeting the requirements of the Texas Education Code, §28.0211. This list
shall include nationally recognized instruments for obtaining valid and reliable
data, which demonstrate student competencies in the applicable subject at the
appropriate grade level range. The district shall select only one test for each
applicable grade and subject to be used under this section.

(b) The alternate assessment must be given during
the period established in the assessment calendar by the commissioner of education
to coincide with the date of the third administration of the statewide assessment.

(c) A company or organization scoring a test defined
in subsection (a) of this section shall send test results to the school district
for verification within ten working days following receipt of the test materials
from the school district and shall send a copy of those results to the Texas
Education Agency (TEA) in a format specified by and on a schedule established
by the TEA.

(d) To maintain the security and confidential
integrity of group-administered achievement tests, school districts and charter
schools shall follow the procedures for test security and confidentiality delineated
in Subchapter C of this chapter (relating to Security and Confidentiality).

Source: The provisions of this §101.2011 adopted to be effective
May 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 4337; amended to be effective February 24, 2005, 30
TexReg 842; amended to be effective June 4, 2012, 37 TexReg 4040.

The superintendent of each school district and
chief administrative officer of each charter school shall establish a waiver
process by which a parent or guardian may request that a student not participate
in the third test opportunity due to potential harm to the student. The waiver
must provide documentation of potential harm, student need, and other appropriate
information. If a parental waiver is granted, the student must still participate
in all required acceleration and is subject to retention based on the failure
on the second test administration.

Source: The provisions of this §101.2015 adopted to be effective
May 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 4337.

In accordance with §101.3014 of this title (relating
to Scoring and Reporting), the scoring contractor will provide school districts
with the results of the assessments required by the Texas Education Code, §28.0211,
or, if applicable, the results of the alternate assessment specified in §101.2011
of this title (relating to Alternate Assessment), within ten working days following
the receipt of the test materials from the school district or charter school.

Source: The provisions of this §101.2017 adopted to be effective
May 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 4337; amended to be effective June 4, 2012, 37 TexReg
4040; amended to be effective February 26, 2014, 39 TexReg 1149.

(a) Students who have been retained in Grade
8 in accordance with the grade advancement testing requirements may earn course
credit for high school graduation during the next school year in subject areas
other than the required courses in the subject area which caused the student
to be retained.

(b) The school board of each district and each
charter school may establish a policy that provides for the placement of retained
students in an age-appropriate learning environment. In accordance with local
grade configurations for elementary, middle, and high school campuses, this
policy may specify the age by which a retained student should be placed on the
next level campus even though not yet promoted to the grade of that campus.

Source: The provisions of this §101.2019 adopted to be effective
May 26, 2002, 27 TexReg 4337.